Goodwell, Okla. — Tri-County
Electric Cooperative and Oklahoma Panhandle State University
are working together on several important projects this
year. With their main office in Hooker, Tri-County serves
over 22,000 accounts in the three Oklahoma Panhandle
counties as well as the service area in and around Elkhart,
Kansas.

Tri-County provides financial support to
the university for its “Community Service Learning,” a
part of the OPSU School of Business. Each semester, as
part of their studies, several students are assigned to
work for and with area non-profit organizations in as many
phases of that organization as possible. It is a sound
learning experience for the students and of valuable assistance
to the respective organizations.

Area groups served by the OPSU Community
Service Learning program in the past include the American
Red Cross, March of Dimes, Guymon Chamber of Commerce,
Texas County Election Board, OSU Extension, and 4-H.

Scott Puryear, School of Business instructor
who supervises the program said, “Community Service
Learning has proven to be very meaningful and helpful for
non-profit groups within the OPSU service area. It is also
an exceptional learning experience for our students and
we are grateful to Tri-County for their assistance and
support as we carry on this very important program.”

Recently visiting the OPSU campus as representatives
of Tri-County Electric were Jack Perkins, Chief
Executive Officer, and Roy Smothermen, Customer Services
Manager. They toured the campus with Puryear, met with
school president Dave Bryant, and Perkins presented
Bryant with a check for the financial support of the
Community Service Learning program.

Tri-County Electric Co-op employs seventy
people and several, including Smothermen, are graduates
of Oklahoma Panhandle State University.

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